An Introduction to Middle East Politics
- Benjamin MacQueen - Monash University, Australia
- Historical Legacies; The Ottoman Empire, WWI, colonialism and the Cold War; nationalism and Islamist politics
- Authoritarianism in Egypt, Algeria and Syria; political changes in Iran; the politics of oil in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States; Israel, the Palestinians and the Arab States
- Intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq
- The recent uprisings in the Arab World, human rights, social movements and social media
This book will prove a fascinating read for both undergraduate and postgraduate students of Middle East Politics and related courses across Politics and International Relations.
Supplements
Free resources on the companion website:
- Chapter summaries
- A timeline of events
- Links to historical documents
Ben MacQueen has provided the perfect introductory textbook for students of the Middle East, galloping through the region's modern political history, and signposting all the key events and issues in a lively, accessible and structured manner. Teachers of undergraduate Middle East Politics have been waiting for this one.
Emma C. Murphy
School of Government and International Affairs, The University of Durham
This is an expansive survey of Middle East politics that takes into account not only novel topics, such as human rights, environment and democratization, but also geographies that are generally neglected in such studies. Benjamin MacQueen captures the dynamics of continuity and change in the region and does so in a quite accessible manner to students and general readers. This is a comprehensive view of the region in the post-Arab uprisings era and an essential textbook on Middle East politics.
Meliha Benli Altunişik
Department of International Relations, Dean of the Graduate School of Social Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
Teaching Middle Eastern politics during the throes of the so-called Arab Spring is both exciting and daunting. Exciting because the peoples of the region seem closer to genuine democracy than ever before, and daunting because we have few scholarly guides to this new reality. For decades, scholarship on the Middle East tended to focus on the longstanding continuities in that region, leaving students ill-equipped to fathom the sources of and possibilities for change. MacQueen's textbook is thus a welcome companion to any course that seeks to help students understand the region's newfound political dynamism. Written with insight and verve, and covering a vast amount of terrain with efficiency and accuracy, this is likely to be the single best textbook in the field.
Tarek Masoud
Associate Professor of Public Policy, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
The book by MacQueen is a dynamic text that will accompany its readers – both students and practitioners – in a journey throughout the political development of the region by highlighting the changes and continuities that have always characterised this part of the world.
A great introduction for understanding the most complex region of the world nowadays. Simple yet distinguished historical background, an objective approach to current events, and a great narration. Recommended for both graduate and undergraduate levels.
This is an excellent coursebook on Middle East politics. It brings together essential information and current politics. As such, students not only learn about historical contexts, but learn to appreciate how contexts feed into current affairs.
Excellent insight for those who are interested in middle east politics. Good lay out identifying key aspects. A must read for students who wish to develop their understanding of middle east politics.